Day 7 - Knidos

Our impromptu route today. We started early so that we could make the 9:30am ferry to Datca. As the hotel was only a few hundred yards from the harbor, it was easier getting on the ferry then it would have been to navigate out of the city.  Checking out took a while - staff was just getting going at 8am.  Bordrum is not a morning city, haha.  The only negative to a perfect morning was Alex's bike which has very little gas in it AND the stupid back tire was out of air again.  We limped to the ferry and we're hoping a station is very close to where it lets off.

 

On to the ferry by 9A for the 9:30A departure.  The voyage was scheduled to take about 90 minutes.

Jon getting his bike secured to the boat.  It appears that these guys have done this before.

We had to hurry up and pick a seat before the hoards or travelers board.

Leaving Bodrum......bikes on-board.

Jon had to stay in the center of the boat to prevent it from listing to one side.

Once again we're worried about Alex's rear tire.  It lost more air overnight (despite yesterday's fix) so we purchased "fix a flat" which was the American can with Turkish directions taped over the English.  Luckily, Jon has good thumbnails.

Alex chewing on the mic

Ponch from CHIPS.  Look how happy he is.

Views like this all day.  That's why we're happy.

 

Our friend Baris.  He's on a 20 day trip from Istanbul....alone.  Just him and a tent.   He joined us for a great ride and a good lunch in Knidos.  Knidos is on the most Western tip of Turkey's southern peninsula.  There is noting else there - one place to eat and dilapidated Roman housing.

One lane roads (with two way traffic)... no guard rails = fun

Beautiful water

Alex is actually panicking in this shot because Jon has disappeared to take the picture and his last words were "slow down".

We arrive in Knidos.  Have to park the bikes here and walk down to the harbor.  There was a ticket booth right next to the walk down so we bought tickets.  Later we learned the tickets were for entry to the Roman ruins.  The free access to the restaurant cost us 8 TR each.

 

 

This was a typical ride from today.  Beautiful coast, lots of switchbacks, turquoise water, loved it.

 

We went off the beaten track here and stumbled upon this scene at the bottom of a very steep hill.

 

Our typical issue when faced with two ways to go and no signs.

 

Rush hour in a Turkish village.

 

The only restaurant in Knidos - actually the only building in Knidos.

Get a job, Jon.

Something about getting to the top makes us want to put our hands in the air.

 

After our awesome riding day, we arrived at the city of Datca.  No reservations so we drove towards the water looking for the nicest hotel we could find.  We chose the "My Marina Select Boutique Hotel" just because the name was so fricken out there.  The view was incredible and the room looked great.

Alex is talking to Wendy telling her about another awesome day.

 

Our view from the hotel from 'our' table. The owner of the hotel, Hussein, pays us periodic visits - sits, talks business, and even sends over a bowl of very very fresh melon to enjoy.  The hospitality of this country continues to amaze. 

 

In the very near distance is a Greek island.  Amazing view!

We walked along the beachfront to look for dinner.  Tough life.  Note the changing stands every 200 meters or so.  This is still a mostly Islamic country.

Our dinner table was on the beach and had the same wonderful view.

Alex and Jon's dinner.  Guess who ate what?